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I have been over to total a couple of times since it has been taken over by the new owner. I can see that he is trying to get on top of things but the American cichlid section is truly neglected. He has some great species in there. But there is also some Hybridised misfits that actually ruin the hobby. Things like Fenestratum crossed with Synspilum. These fish should be euthanaised and not be put back into the hobby. I realize that this is stock bought by the old owner but I think the new owner needs to make a stand and be a purest.

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Hey David, I agree with most of what you have said, it was always my goal to clean up and improve the salt section first, not just the tanks but the variety of marine fish. You will be able to tell we have started to clean up the tanks in the fresh water section and i'm definitely keen to improve the variety of american, african, native and tropicals. But my knowledge there is more limited, but I continue to learn, so i ask for some patience. I agree that the hybrids are not everyones cup of tea and I certainly don't support breeding them, but as you mentioned I inherited a lot of those fish, and some come in from customers that were headed for the toilet. It is my policy to care for every fish and see that it has a chance for survival. given time I endeavour to have a selection of great quality pure bred fish for the enthusiasts, and if you don't mind educating a freshwater noob i am willing to learn.. I am glad your taking an interest and appreciate the comments.

I'll take a stand and do my best to make this a pure bred store, but I won't kill fish, so instead i might make a rescue section that is not mixed with the for sale fish.

Brett

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Sounds like you are on the right track.
The toilet is definatly the wrong place for unwanted fish.
So is our waterways.
Hybrids ruin the hobby by delivering impure lines that later get mistaken and resold as pure breds.
apart from being patient I am will to help when I can.
Once you setup your freshwater American section let me know and I will help you to source pure strains from recognized breeders that will suit your shop as a purist.

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Once you setup your freshwater American section let me know and I will help you to source pure strains from recognized breeders that will suit your shop as a purist.

That would be a great help, I have met a few breeders and look forward to meeting more, there are apparently some great local clubs and cichlid forums, which could be a good help in future too. Although I don't like when shop owners get on forums to flog their stuff, I think its more for the users to share advice with each other but the clubs I think could be a good place for me to learn more about the different species. I can certainly see how easy it is for them to get mixed up and sold as something they are not.

i've got my hands full for the moment, but i'll keep you updated...

so far i'm happy with the changes.

B